Cookbook sale to benefit NFM’s Relay

May 8, 2013

Many have heard of the American Cancer Society, yet not everyone is familiar with the Relay For Life events that go on annually in communities all over the United States and other parts of the world.

Relay was started in 1985 with one Relay in Tacoma Washington. The events rapidly spread across the nation and came to Lee County nineteen years ago and spread into many communities since.

North Fort Myers is celebrating its fifth anniversary this year with a record number of teams!

Each spring, teams of volunteers get together for an 18-hour extravaganza to celebrate the progress that has been made in an effort to eliminate cancer, to care for those who are currently battling the disease, or to remember those who have lost their lives.

This yearly event is called Relay For Life. Leading up to the yearly event volunteers work tirelessly coming up with innovative methods of fund raising with the help of local restaurants, and may small businesses who donate a portion of proceeds to the cause.

Though Relay For Life of North Fort Myers is one of the smaller and newest groups in Lee County they are not afraid to step out and test uncharted waters.

With determination to succeed and a few prayers, 60 volunteers from the teams donated recipes to Deb Giacalone, Meliss Laskos and Kimmie Correll who created and published, RECIPES AND REMEMBRANCES, COOK FOR A CURE.

The book's editor, Kimmie Correll compares the cookbook to a family tree, in fact Correll believes Relay For Life is that way as well.

In 1973, Mrs. Correll's mother, Tina (Roman) Brown bought land in North Fort Myers to build a home, and opened an interior decorating business on Colonial Blvd. There are now three of the families, four generations still residing in Lee and Charlotte counties.

Mrs. Brown passed away from cancer in 2008, prompting her granddaughter Megan Kuzyk to get involved with the newly formed Relay For Life of North Fort Myers group in 2009. Correll attended the 2009 event along with many other family members who joined Kuzyk and her husband Matt.

Last year the Kuzyks' formed Team Shenanigans, which is made up of family members and close friends.

This year Correll suggested the cookbook idea to the committee, and the outcome is a wonderful collection of close to 200 recipes sent in by 60 participants and their extended families throughout the USA. So, as you can see, both Relay For Life and Cook For a Cure are family trees that will continue to grow here in North Fort Myers for as many years as it takes to find a cure for cancer!

The books are $10 each and $5 (all profits) goes to the American Cancer Society.

The cookbooks will be sold at the Relay or can be ordered by mail. To request a book by mail, mail payment to Cooking for a Cure, C/O Kimmie Correll, 11322 Pineapple Rd., Punta Gorda, FL. 33955. Make checks, $10 for the book plus $3 for postage, payable to Kim Correll. The books also may be purchased at the NFM Chamber office at the Shell Factory.

Call 941-639-1852 for more information or to, possibly, have a book delivered.